The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, commended the Department of Homeland Security today for awarding $25 million in grants last week to an array of nonprofit organizations under the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). The grants provide nonpublic schools, shuls and other nonprofits in areas at risk of terrorist attacks up to $75,000 each to make their facilities more secure by acquiring and installing items such as fencing, lighting, video surveillance, X-ray and metal detectors, and blast-resistant doors, locks and windows.

Since 2005, DHS has awarded more than $200 million in NSGP funding to nonprofits across the country.

“We are grateful to the Trump Administration and the Department of Homeland Security for implementing this program and our many allies in Congress for backing it. We particularly wish to thank Senators John Boozman (R-Ark.), John Hoeven (R-N.D), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y) and Kristin Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and U.S. Representatives Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.), Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), John Carter (R-Texas), Peter King (R-N.Y.) and Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.). These grants are essential to providing protection for our children as they go off to school every day, adults as they pray in our congregations and makes people in American communities across the country more secure on a day-to-day basis.”

Orthodox Union President Mark (Moishe) Bane stated:

“We are proud that the Orthodox Union spearheaded the effort to create the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and works annually to have it funded by Congress. These grants are essential to the welfare of our community.”

As the public policy arm of the nation’s largest representative Orthodox Jewish organization‚ representing nearly 1,000 congregations nationwide‚ OU Advocacy works to promote Jewish values and protect Jewish interests in the public square.